DuPont earnings up early in year

Weedkiller claims depress first-quarter performance

10:37 PM,
Apr. 19, 2012

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Agriculture and performance chemicals, as well as last year's acquisition of Danisco, powered DuPont Co. to higher earnings during the first three months of 2012, the company said Thursday morning.

Gains were partially offset by one-time charges related to claims involving Imprelis, a weedkiller that DuPont has now taken off the market.

The company reported profits of $1.49 billion during the first quarter of 2012, up from $1.43 billion during the same quarter of 2011. That's $1.57 per share, versus $1.52 in the first quarter of 2011. ...